Kenya’s Harambee Stars will face Seychelles tonight at Kasarani Stadium without two key defenders after head coach Benni McCarthy confirmed their absence. Captain Abud Omar will miss the game through suspension following disciplinary issues picked up in the qualifiers. His absence leaves the Stars without one of their most experienced leaders at the back.
Also missing is Alphonse Omija, who has been excused to travel to Tunisia to finalise a potential club transfer. The young centre-back is undergoing medicals, with McCarthy approving his release before the transfer window shuts.
Despite these setbacks, McCarthy expressed confidence in the depth of his squad, urging fans not to underestimate the importance of tonight’s clash. Kenya may already be out of the 2026 World Cup race after last Friday’s 3–1 defeat to Gambia, but the Seychelles fixture is being treated as a chance to restore pride and build momentum for future competitions.
All eyes will also be on striker Michael Olunga, who is chasing the all-time national goalscoring record and could exploit Seychelles’ shaky defence to edge closer to the milestone. For now, Harambee Stars will need to prove that even without their captain and a rising defensive talent, they have what it takes to finish the campaign on a high.
